Clasp



I 1,615,476" 5' 1927' E. MOREHOUSE CLASP Filed Feb. 1925 "001 mu mm .nmmn mm m W H M A TTORNEYS.

- INVENTOR. Eizyene Morefiouse.

BY I

Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE MOREHOUSE, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, TO B. A. BALLOU & 00., ENG, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OE RHODE ISLAND.

CLASP.

Application filed February 9, 1925. Serial No. 7,860.

This invention relates to an improved construction of safety clasp for a chain or bracelet; and has for its object to providesuch a clasp in which a pin or stud or other catch member is mounted on one end portion of the chain and a hook or other engaging member is pivotally mounted on the opposite end port-ion of the chain, to be swung into engagement with the pin or catch for 1 the purpose of retaining the ends of the chain together, and to also provide a lock-- ing member adapted to be moved toysecure the engaging member in engagement with the catch member to prevent inadvertent separation of the chain ends.

A further object of this invention is to mount the locking member onthe engaging member so that when the engaging member is in engaged position the locking member may be rotated to retain it in locked position.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved clasp as connecting end portions 1'' of a chain or bracelet, a portion of the chain being illustrated by adotted line.

Figure 2 is a perspective View showing the engaging member in detail.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the locking member in detail.

Figure 4 is a central sectional edge view showing the locking member as pivotally mounted in the engaging member.

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating the locking member as pivotallymounted on the engaging'member to swing about-the axis of the locking pin or stud when engaged thereby to move its slot into and out of registering position with that in the hook or engaging member.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the opposite ends of a chain asslightly spacedapart with the clasp member swung down to disengaged position.

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the opposite ends of the chain links as in engagement with "each other and the safety clasp in engaged and locked position.

It is found in the practical construction and operation of safety clasps for bracelets or chains, of advantage to providea clasp which will positively prevent the chain ends from separating after having been moved to closed position to accomplish which I have provided a hook or engaging member pivotally mounted on one end portion of the chain to swing into engagement witha stud or pin on the end link of the opposite end portion of the chain and to mount a lock on the hook or engaging member adapted to be rotated about theaXis of the stud member on the opposite end of the chain, to move its slot into and out of registering position with that in the hook member so as to lock and prevent the hook member from disengage ment with this stud. It is also found of advantage in practice, to'provide stopsto' limit both the opening and closing movements of the locking member so that when moved in onedirection to the limit, its slot is bound to register with that in the hook and when moved to the limit in the opposite direction its slot is moved out of registering position with that in the hook and the same is locked. Then again, it is also found of advantage to provide a detent for retaining or locking the lock member, either when in open or closed position, and the following is a detailed description of the present em bodiment of my invention showing one means by which these advantageous results maybe accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates a series of links of the chain or bracelet which may be made in suitable formthe end link 11 atone end of the bracelet being preferably provided with a tongue 12 adapted to fit into a slot 13 in the opposite end link 1d of the bracelet. The link 11 is preferably provided with a laterally eXtending stud or pin 15 and the link 14 is provided with an engaging member or, hook 16 which is pivoted at 17 to the link .14 and slotted at 18 and adapted to be swung up into engagement with the pin or stud 15 with a head 30 thereon when the end links are in engagement one with the other to retain them in that position.

In order to securely lock this engaging member or hook in engagement with the pin or stud 15, I have provided a slotted lock member 19 with a trunnion portion 20 extending through an enlarged portion 21 of v the slot 18 in the hook member and is riveted as at 22 or otherwise secured to rotate therein. The body of this look member including its trunnion is slotted as at 23 so that when this slot registers with the slot 18 in the hook or engaging member, this engaging member may be swung either to disengage or to receive the pin 15 on the opposite end of the chain.

This locking member 19 is provided with an operating handle 20 whereby it may be rotated on its own axis, which is also that of the pin or stud 15 when in engagement therewith, which rotation may cause the slots of both the look and that of the hook to register to unlock the same, or into the position illustrated in Figure 7. in which the slot in the lock is moved out of registration with that in the hook member, thereby securely locking the whole to the pin or stud 15.

It is also found of advantage to provide stops 24 and 25 whereby the swinging or rotating motion of this look will be arrested upon being swung to wide open position which brings the slots of the two members into perfect alignment, and also to be ar rested upon being swung to closed position when these slots are opened in opposite directions, and also it is found of advantage to provide detents for frictionally holding this look either in its open or in its closed position, to accomplish which I have formed a protuberance 26 on the face of the hook member to enter a corresponding recess 27 in the handle end of the lock when this handle is swung to open position, and I have also provided a similar detent 28 to receive this depression 27 when the lock is swung to closed position to frictionally retain this look in either of these positions.

In order to provide the stop 25 and the detent 26, I have provided the hook or engaging member with an extension portion 29 to carry these two members.

My improved construction of safety clasp is very simple and practical in construction and effective in its operation and when moved to closed position the lock is swung on its axis to locked position and the two ends of the chain are positively locked against inadvertent separation.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety clasp for chain structures comprising a stud member on one end portion of the chain, a member pivotally mounted on the other end portion of the chain and having a slot to be swung to receive said stud, and a slotted lock member pivoted in the slot of said member to swing about the axis of said stud when engaged thereby to move its slot into and out of registering position with that in the member.

2. A safety clasp for a chain comprising a stud member laterally extending from one end portion of the chain, a member pivoted to the opposite end portion of the chain and having a slot adapted to be swung to receive said stud member to prevent separation of the ends, and a slotted lock member pivotally mounted in the slot of said member to swing about the axis of said stud when in said slot to prevent disengagement of said members.

3. A safety clasp for chain structures comprising a stud member on one end portion of the chain, a member pivotally mounted on the other end portion of the chain and having a slot to be swung to receive said.

stud, said slot having an enlarged bottom portion and a slotted lock member pivoted to said enlarged portion to swing about the axis of said stud when engaged thereby to move its slot into and out of registering position with that in said member, stops for limiting the opening and closing movements of said lock, and detents for retaining the lock in adjusted position.

4. A clasp for attaching together the ends of a chain structure comprising a stud laterally extending from one end portion of said chain, an engaging member pivoted to a portion of said chain adjacent its opposite end and having a slot to receive said stud when swung to locked position, said slot having an enlarged bottom portion, a slotted locking member pivoted in the enlarged poition of the slot of said engaging member and adapted to be moved to cause its slot to register with that of said engaging member for the reception of said stud and subsequently moved from said registering position to prevent said stud from being detached from said engaging member.

5. A clasp for attaching together the end of a chain structure, comprising a stud laterally extending from one end portion of said chain, an engaging member pivoted to a portion of said chain adjacent its opposite end and having a slot to receive said stud when swung to locked position, said slot having an enlarged bottom portion, a locking member having a slot therein pivotally mounted in the enlarged portion of the slot of said engaging member in position to cause the slots in both of said members to register for the reception of said stud, said locking member being adapted to be subsequently swung to move its slot out of registration With that of said engaging member to pre- Vent said stud from being Withdrawn from the'slot in said engaging member, and a detent for retaining said locking member in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EUGENE MOREHOUSE. 

